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¶ Se mwen menm Pòl, yon moun Bondye te deside chwazi pou sèvi apòt Jezikri, ansanm ak Timote, frè nou, k'ap ekri lèt sa a

voye bay tout pèp Bondye ki lavil Kolòs la, k'ap kenbe fèm nan lavi n'ap mennen ansanm tankou frè nan Kris la. Nou mande Bondye, Papa nou, pou li ban nou benediksyon ak kè poze.

¶ Mwen pa janm sispann di Bondye, Papa Jezikri, Seyè nou an, mèsi lè m'ap lapriyè pou nou.

Mwen pran nouvel jan nou gen konfyans nan Jezikri, jan nou renmen tout moun ki fè pati pèp Bondye a.

Depi premye jou yo te fè nou konnen bon nouvèl la ki yon mesaj ki vre, nou te gen espwa jwenn sa Bondye sere pou nou nan syèl la. Se espwa sa a ki fè nou gen tout konfyans sa a ak tout renmen sa a nan kè nou.

Bon nouvel la gaye nan mitan nou depi premye jou nou te tande pale favè Bondye a, depi lè yo te fè nou konnen sa li ye tout bon an. Bon nouvèl sa a lakòz nou resevwa anpil benediksyon, menm jan li fè l' toupatou sou latè.

Se Epafras, yon bon zanmi k'ap travay ansanm avè m', ki te moutre nou tou sa. L'ap ede m' nan travay la tankou yon bon sèvitè Kris la.

Se li menm ki fè m' konnen renmen Lespri Bondye a ban nou.

¶ Se poutèt sa, mwen pa janm sispann lapriyè Bondye pou nou depi jou mwen te rive konn sa. Mwen mande Bondye pou l' fè nou rive fin konnen volonte l' nèt ale, pou l' ban nou anpil lespri ak anpil konprann ki soti nan Sentespri.

10 Konsa, n'a viv jan Bondye vle l' la, n'a toujou fè sa ki fè l' plezi. N'a fè tout kalite bon bagay, n'a grandi nan konesans Bondye.

11 Mwen mande Bondye pou l' fòtifye nou tout jan ak bèl pouvwa li pou nou ka sipòte tout bagay avèk pasyans.

12 ¶ Ak kè kontan, se pou nou di Papa a mèsi, li menm ki ban nou privilèj resevwa pòsyon pa nou nan eritaj Bondye sere pou tout moun pa l' yo nan peyi limyè a.

13 Li rache nou anba pouvwa fènwa a, li fè nou antre nan peyi kote Pitit li renmen anpil la wa.

14 Se gremesi Pitit sa a nou delivre, nou resevwa padon pou peche nou yo.

15 Kris se pòtre Bondye, Bondye nou pa ka wè a. Se li menm ki premye pitit li. Li te la anvan tou sa Bondye te kreye.

16 Se ak li Bondye te kreye tou sa ki nan syèl la ak sou latè, sa nou wè ak sa nou pa wè. Se ak li li kreye tout lespri yo ki chita ap donminen, ki gen otorite, ki chèf epi ki gen pouvwa. Se ak Kris la Bondye te kreye yo tout, epi se pou li li te kreye yo.

17 Kris la te la anvan tout bagay. Se nan li yo tout jwenn plas yo.

18 Se li ki tèt legliz la, legliz la se kò li. Se li menm ki bay kò a lavi. Se li menm an premye ki te leve soti vivan nan lanmò pou l' te ka gen premye plas nan tout bagay.

19 Se Bondye menm ki te vle pou tou sa l' ye a, se sa pou Kris la ye tou.

20 Se li menm tou ki te vle fè tout bagay byen avè li ankò, gremesi Kris la, tou sa ki sou latè ak tou sa ki nan syèl la. Li mete lapè toupatou, gremesi san Kris la ki koule sou kwa a.

21 Nou menm tou, moun Kolòs, nan tan lontan, nou t'ap viv lwen Bondye. Nou te lènmi avè l' akòz tout bagay mal nou t'ap fè yo, ak tout move lide nou te gen nan tèt nou.

22 Men koulye a, gremesi Kris la ki mouri nan kò l' tankou yon moun, Bondye fè nou byen avè l' ankò pou nou ka parèt devan l' tankou moun k'ap viv apa pou li, san okenn tach, san okenn repwòch.

23 Men, gen yon kondisyon pou sa: se pou nou rete fèm, byen anrasinen nan konfyans nou, san nou pa pèdi espwa nou genyen depi lè nou te tande bon nouvèl la. Se bon nouvèl sa a yo te anonse bay tout moun sou latè epi se li menm, mwen menm Pòl, m'ap sèvi.

24 Koulye a, mwen kontan anpil dèske m'ap soufri pou nou. Paske, lè m'ap soufri nan kò pa m' konsa, m'ap bay pòsyon pa m' pou konplete tou sa ki manke nan soufrans Kris la pou legliz la ki kò li.

25 Wi, m'ap sèvi legliz la koulye a dapre travay Bondye ban m' fè pou nou an: travay sa a se pou m' anonse tout bagay ki nan mesaj li a,

26 pou m' fè tout moun konnen sekrè li te kenbe kache depi tout tan kifè pesonn pa t' konnen l'. Men koulye a, li devwale l' bay tout moun ki pou li.

27 Paske, Bondye vle fè moun pa l' yo konnen tout richès ak tout bèl pouvwa ki nan sekrè li te sere pou moun ki pa jwif yo. Men sekrè a: nou menm moun ki pa jwif yo, Kris la ap viv nan kè nou tou, li ban nou espwa nou gen pou n' patisipe nan bèl pouvwa Bondye a.

28 Konsa, m'ap fè tout moun konnen Kris la. M'ap bay tout moun konsèy, m'ap moutre yo tout bagay avè bon konprann, jan m' kapab pou yo tout ka parèt devan Bondye tankou granmoun ki byen grandi nan lavi y'ap mennen ansanm ak Kris la.

29 Se pou sa m'ap travay, se pou sa m'ap goumen ak tout pouvwa Kris la k'ap travay ak fòs nan mwen.

¶ Mwen vle fè nou konnen ki kalite batay m'ap mennen pou nou, pou tout moun ki nan lavil Lawodise ak pou tout lòt moun yo ki poko konn figi mwen.

M'ap goumen pou yo ka gen fòs ak kouraj plen kè yo, pou yo fè yonn nan renmen Bondye a, pou yo gen yon bon konprann k'ap ba yo anpil konfyans devan Bondye. Konsa yo menm tou, y'a konnen sekrè travay Bondye a, ki vle di Kris la.

Se nan li tout richès ki nan bon konprann ak konesans Bondye a kache.

¶ Mwen di nou sa pou nou pa kite pesonn twonpe nou ak yon bann pawòl ki sanble verite.

Paske, si mwen pa la avèk nou nan kò m', mwen la nan lespri mwen. Mwen kontan wè jan nou rete nan lòd, jan nou kenbe fèm nan konfyans nou gen nan Kris la.

Se konsa, nou menm ki asepte Kris la pou Seyè nou an, se pou nou viv yon jan ki dakò ak li.

Se pou nou anrasinen nan li, se pou nou bati tout lavi nou sou li. Kenbe pi fèm toujou nan konfyans nou gen nan li, jan yo te moutre nou sa, san nou pa janm sispann di Bondye mèsi.

Fè atansyon pou nou pa kite pesonn twonpe nou ak bèl diskou filozòf yo, ak diskisyon ki pa vo anyen. Bagay sa yo soti nan koutim lèzòm, nan jan yo konprann bagay ki nan lemonn. Yo pa soti nan Kris la.

Se nan lavi Kris la t'ap mennen nan kò li a nou jwenn tou sa Bondye ye.

10 Nou menm tou, Bondye la nan tout lavi nou, paske n'ap viv nan Kris la ki chèf tout lespri ki gen otorite ak pouvwa.

11 Nou menm k'ap viv ansanm nan Kris la, nou te sikonsi tou. Men, se pa t' moun ki te sikonsi nou. Sikonsizyon sa a soti nan Kris la ki delivre nou anba pouvwa lachè ki t'ap fè nou fè sa ki mal.

12 Wi, lè yo te batize nou, nou te antere ansanm ak Kris la. Apre sa, nou leve soti vivan ansanm avè l' tou, paske nou te kwè nan pouvwa Bondye ki te fè l' leve soti vivan nan lanmò.

13 ¶ Nan tan lontan, nou te mouri paske nou t'ap viv nan peche nou yo, paske nou pa t' sikonsi nan kò nou dapre lalwa Moyiz. Men koulye a, gremesi Kris la, Bondye ban nou lavi ankò, li padonen tout peche nou yo.

14 Li chire papye kote tou sa nou te dwe l' yo ekri a. Papye sa a te kondannen nou devan lalwa. Kris la detwi l' nèt lè li kloure l' sou kwa a.

15 Avèk Kris la ki mouri sou kwa a, Bondye wete tout pouvwa ak tout otorite lespri yo te genyen nan lemonn. Li fè tout moun wè sa yo ye. Li fè yo mache tankou prizonye devan Kris la ki te genyen batay la.

16 ¶ Se sak fè, pa kite pesonn kritike nou pou sa n'ap manje, pou sa n'ap bwè, pou jou nou mete apa pou fè fèt, pou fèt lalin nouvèl, osinon pou jou repo.

17 Tou sa se lonbraj bagay ki te gen pou vini yo; bagay tout bon yo se nan Kris la yo ye.

18 Se poutèt sa, moun nou wè k'ap sèvi zanj epi ki swadizan p'ap vante tèt yo, pa kite moun konsa konprann pou yo wete rekonpans nou nan men nou. Moun konsa toujou ap rakonte vizyon yo te fè. Pou anyen, yo gonfle ak lògèy poutèt yon bann lide lèzòm yo mete nan tèt yo.

19 Moun konsa p'ap viv ansanm ak Kris la ki tèt kò a. Se Kris la k'ap nouri tout kò a, k'ap kenbe l' byen kanpe ak tout jwenti l' ak tout venn li yo byen solid. Se li menm k'ap fè l' grandi jan Bondye vle l' la.

20 Se konsa, si nou mouri ansanm ak Kris la ki te delivre nou anba pouvwa lespri k'ap donminen nan lemonn yo, poukisa pou n'ap viv tankou si nou te toujou anba pouvwa ki nan lemonn yo? Poukisa pou nou kite yo soumèt nou anba prensip tankou sa ki di:

21 pa pran sa, pa goute sa, pa manyen sa?

22 Tout bagay sa yo, fini ou fin fè yo, yo pa fè anyen pou ou. Se lèzòm ki mande bagay konsa, se yo ki moutre bagay sa yo.

23 Se vre, bagay sa yo sanble yo bon, paske sa mande moun anpil volonte pou yo pran pòz sèvi zanj yo konsa, pou yo pran pòz pa vante tèt yo, pou yo fè bagay pou swadizan kraze pouvwa lachè nan kò yo. Men, tou sa pa vo anyen. Paske, atousa, yo pa ka rive donmennen egzijans lachè a.

¶ Nou menm ki deja leve soti vivan ansanm ak Kris la nan lanmò, se pou nou chache bagay ki anwo nan syèl la kote Kris la chita sou bò dwat Bondye.

Pa kite bagay ki sou latè pran tèt nou, mete lide nou sou bagay ki anwo nan syèl la.

Konnen sa byen: nou mouri deja, lavi nou kache ansanm ak Kris la nan Bondye.

Se Kris la ki lavi nou tout bon. Lè la parèt, nou menm tou n'a parèt ansanm avè l' nan tout bèl pouvwa li.

¶ Se poutèt sa, se pou nou detwi nan nou tou sa ki soti nan lemonn tankou: imoralite, malpwòpte, move dezi, move lanvi, renmen lajan (ki menm jan ak sèvi zidòl).

Se tout bagay sa yo ki fè kòlè Bondye tonbe sou moun ki derefize obeyi li.

Se konsa nou t'ap viv nan tan lontan lè nou te anba pouvwa peche sa yo.

¶ Men koulye a, pa fè kòlè, pa fè move san ni okenn mechanste. Se pou nou voye tout bagay sa yo jete. Pa kite okenn jouman ni okenn gwomo soti nan bouch nou.

Pa bay frè nou yo manti. Paske, nou voye vye moun nou te ye a jete ansanm ak tout vye mès li yo.

10 Koulye a, nou tounen yon lòt kalite moun, n'ap chanje jouk n'a rive sanble ak Bondye ki kreye nou an pou n' te ka konnen l' nèt.

11 Se sak fè, pa gen moun ki jwif ak moun ki pa jwif ankò, pa gen moun ki sikonsi ak moun ki pa sikonsi ankò, pa gen moun ki etranje, ni moun ki bèt, pa gen moun ki esklav ak moun ki pa esklav. Se Kris la ki tout, se li ki nan nou tout.

12 ¶ Nou tout nou fè pati pèp Bondye a: se li menm ki te renmen nou, ki te chwazi nou pou n' ka viv pou li. Se poutèt sa, se pou nou gen kè sansib anpil, pou n' aji byen yonn ak lòt, san lògèy, avèk anpil dousè, anpil pasyans.

13 Se pou nou yonn sipòte lòt, pou nou yonn padonnen lòt si nou gen kont yonn ak lòt. Wi, se pou yonn padonnen lòt, menm jan Kris la te padonnen nou.

14 Men, anvan tout bagay, se pou nou gen renmen ki tankou yon kòd k'ap mare nou ansanm yonn ak lòt.

15 Se pou nou viv byen yonn ak lòt, jan Kris la vle l' la. Paske, Bondye rele nou pou nou viv byen yonn ak lòt pou nou ka fè yon sèl kò. Toujou chonje sa li fè pou nou.

16 Kenbe pawòl Kris la ak tout richès li yo byen fèm nan kè nou. Se pou nou yonn aprann nan men lòt, se pou nou yonn bay lòt konsèy avèk anpil bon konprann. Se pou nou chante sòm, kantik ak tout lòt chante Lespri Bondye a va moutre nou, pou di Bondye mèsi ak tout kè nou.

17 Tou sa n'ap fè, tou sa n'ap di, fè l' nan non Seyè Jezi a, san nou pa janm bliye di Bondye mèsi nan li.

18 ¶ Nou menm medam, soumèt devan mari nou paske se konsa pou moun ki kwè nan Seyè a aji.

19 Nou menm mari, renmen madanm nou. Pa fè move jan ak yo.

20 Nou menm timoun, se devwa nou pou nou obeyi manman nou ak papa nou nan tout bagay. Se sa ki fè Bondye plezi.

21 Nou menm papa ak manman, pa rele sou timoun yo twòp pou sa pa dekouraje yo.

22 Nou menm domestik, obeyi mèt nou gen sou latè a nan tout bagay. Se pa sèlman lè nou anba je yo pou nou obeyi yo, tankou moun k'ap fè lèzòm plezi. Men, se pou n' obeyi yo ak tout kè nou, akòz respè nou gen pou Seyè a.

23 Nenpòt travay yo ban nou fè, fè l' ak tout kè nou tankou si se pa pou lèzòm nou t'ap travay, men pou Seyè a.

24 Chonje byen: Seyè a gen pou ban nou rekonpans nou: l'ap ban nou eritaj li sere pou moun pa l' yo. Paske, mèt n'ap sèvi tout bon an se Kris la.

25 Men, moun ki fè sa ki mal va resevwa sa ki pou li dapre mal li te fè a. Paske, Bondye pa gade sou figi moun.

¶ Nou menm mèt yo, aji byen ak domestik nou yo, san fè okenn lenjistis. Chonje byen, nou menm tou nou gen yon mèt nan syèl la.

¶ Pa janm sispann lapriyè. Pa kite dòmi pran nou. Toujou chonje lapriyè pou di Bondye mèsi.

Anmenmtan, lapriyè pou mwen tou, pou Bondye ban m' okazyon pou m' fè konnen pawòl li a, pou m' fè lèzòm konnen sekrè Kris la. Se poutèt sekrè sa a menm mwen nan prizon koulye a.

Lapriyè pou m' ka rive fè lèzòm wè l' aklè, pou m' ka pale jan mwen dwe pale a.

¶ Pran prekosyon pou nou aji byen avè moun ki pa kretyen yo. Pa kite okenn chans pase.

Lè n'ap pale, di bagay ki pou fè yo kontan, ki pou enterese yo. Konn ki jan pou nou reponn chak moun.

¶ Frè Tichik se yon bon zanmi m', yon bon sèvitè Kris la k'ap ban m' yon bon konkou nan sèvis Seyè a. La ban nou tout nouvèl mwen.

Mwen voye l' ban nou tout espre pou l' ka di nou jan mwen ye, pou l' ka remoute kouraj nou.

Frè Onezim ki moun menm kote ak nou ap vin ansanm avè li. Se yon bon zanmi mwen renmen anpil. Yo tou de va di nou sa k'ap pase bò isit.

10 Aristak ki nan prizon ansanm avè m' voye bonjou pou nou. Mak, kouzen Banabas la, voye bonjou tou. (Mwen te deja di nou sa pou nou fè pou li: resevwa l' byen si l' vin lakay nou).

11 Jezi, ki gen yon ti non Joustous, voye bonjou pou nou tou. Twa mesye sa yo, se yo menm sèlman pami jwif yo k'ap travay avè m' pou gouvènman Bondye ki wa a. Yo te ban m' anpil kouraj.

12 Epafras, ki moun Kolòs tou, voye bonjou pou nou. Sèvitè Kris sa a pa manke lapriyè anpil pou nou pou nou ka rete fèm, pou nou ka fin grandi nèt nan konfyans nou nan Bondye, pou nou ka toujou byen dispoze pou fè tou sa Bondye mande nou.

13 Mwen ka di nou sa: l'ap fatige kò l' anpil pou nou menm moun Kolòs yo, pou moun Lawodise yo ansanm ak moun Yerapolis yo.

14 Lik, bon dòktè mwen an, ansanm ak Demas voye bonjou pou nou tou.

15 Di tout frè Lawodise yo bonjou. Pa bliye Nenfas ansanm ak tout frè ki konn reyini lakay li yo.

16 Lè n'a fin li lèt sa a, voye l' bay legliz Lawodise a pou yo ka li l' tou. Nou menm tou, n'a li lèt moun Lawodise yo va voye ban nou an.

17 Di Achip pou mwen: Fè atansyon. Sèvis yo ba l' fè nan travay Seyè a, se pou l' fè l' byen.

18 Se mwen menm Pòl, ak men pa m', k'ap ekri nou koulye a: Bonjou pou nou tout. Pa bliye m' nan prizon an. benediksyon Bondye pou nou tout.

Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) and Timothy(C) our brother,

To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters[a] in Christ:

Grace(D) and peace to you from God our Father.[b](E)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

We always thank God,(F) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love(G) you have for all God’s people(H) the faith and love that spring from the hope(I) stored up for you in heaven(J) and about which you have already heard in the true message(K) of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit(L) and growing throughout the whole world(M)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras,(N) our dear fellow servant,[c] who is a faithful minister(O) of Christ on our[d] behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.(P)

For this reason, since the day we heard about you,(Q) we have not stopped praying for you.(R) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will(S) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e](T) 10 so that you may live a life worthy(U) of the Lord and please him(V) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,(W) 11 being strengthened with all power(X) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,(Y) 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,(Z) who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance(AA) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.(AB) 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness(AC) and brought us into the kingdom(AD) of the Son he loves,(AE) 14 in whom we have redemption,(AF) the forgiveness of sins.(AG)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image(AH) of the invisible God,(AI) the firstborn(AJ) over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:(AK) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;(AL) all things have been created through him and for him.(AM) 17 He is before all things,(AN) and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head(AO) of the body, the church;(AP) he is the beginning and the firstborn(AQ) from among the dead,(AR) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased(AS) to have all his fullness(AT) dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile(AU) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,(AV) by making peace(AW) through his blood,(AX) shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(AY) in your minds(AZ) because of[g] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(BA) you by Christ’s physical body(BB) through death to present you(BC) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(BD) 23 if you continue(BE) in your faith, established(BF) and firm, and do not move from the hope(BG) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(BH) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(BI)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

24 Now I rejoice(BJ) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,(BK) for the sake of his body, which is the church.(BL) 25 I have become its servant(BM) by the commission God gave me(BN) to present to you the word of God(BO) in its fullness— 26 the mystery(BP) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known(BQ) among the Gentiles the glorious riches(BR) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,(BS) the hope of glory.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing(BT) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,(BU) so that we may present everyone fully mature(BV) in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously(BW) contend(BX) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.(BY)

I want you to know how hard I am contending(BZ) for you and for those at Laodicea,(CA) and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart(CB) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery(CC) of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(CD) I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.(CE) For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit(CF) and delight to see how disciplined(CG) you are and how firm(CH) your faith in Christ(CI) is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,(CJ) continue to live your lives in him, rooted(CK) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,(CL) and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,(CM) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[h] of this world(CN) rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness(CO) of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head(CP) over every power and authority.(CQ) 11 In him you were also circumcised(CR) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[i](CS) was put off when you were circumcised by[j] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism,(CT) in which you were also raised with him(CU) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.(CV)

13 When you were dead in your sins(CW) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[k] alive(CX) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,(CY) 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,(CZ) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.(DA) 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities,(DB) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them(DC) by the cross.[l]

Freedom From Human Rules

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you(DD) by what you eat or drink,(DE) or with regard to a religious festival,(DF) a New Moon celebration(DG) or a Sabbath day.(DH) 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come;(DI) the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility(DJ) and the worship of angels disqualify you.(DK) Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head,(DL) from whom the whole body,(DM) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.(DN)

20 Since you died with Christ(DO) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,(DP) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:(DQ) 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish(DR) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.(DS) 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility(DT) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,(DU) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(DV) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.(DW) For you died,(DX) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[m] life,(DY) appears,(DZ) then you also will appear with him in glory.(EA)

Put to death,(EB) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:(EC) sexual immorality,(ED) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,(EE) which is idolatry.(EF) Because of these, the wrath of God(EG) is coming.[n] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.(EH) But now you must also rid yourselves(EI) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,(EJ) and filthy language from your lips.(EK) Do not lie to each other,(EL) since you have taken off your old self(EM) with its practices 10 and have put on the new self,(EN) which is being renewed(EO) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.(EP) 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew,(EQ) circumcised or uncircumcised,(ER) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,(ES) but Christ is all,(ET) and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves(EU) with compassion, kindness, humility,(EV) gentleness and patience.(EW) 13 Bear with each other(EX) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.(EY) 14 And over all these virtues put on love,(EZ) which binds them all together in perfect unity.(FA)

15 Let the peace of Christ(FB) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body(FC) you were called to peace.(FD) And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ(FE) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(FF) through psalms,(FG) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(FH) 17 And whatever you do,(FI) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks(FJ) to God the Father through him.

Instructions for Christian Households(FK)

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,(FL) as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers,[o] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance(FM) from the Lord as a reward.(FN) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.(FO)

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,(FP) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

Devote yourselves to prayer,(FQ) being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door(FR) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery(FS) of Christ, for which I am in chains.(FT) Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise(FU) in the way you act toward outsiders;(FV) make the most of every opportunity.(FW) Let your conversation be always full of grace,(FX) seasoned with salt,(FY) so that you may know how to answer everyone.(FZ)

Final Greetings

Tychicus(GA) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[p](GB) in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[q] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.(GC) He is coming with Onesimus,(GD) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.(GE) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus(GF) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,(GG) the cousin of Barnabas.(GH) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[r] among my co-workers(GI) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(GJ) who is one of you(GK) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(GL) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(GM) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(GN) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(GO) the doctor, and Demas(GP) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(GQ) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(GR)

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(GS) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus:(GT) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”(GU)

18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(GV) Remember(GW) my chains.(GX) Grace be with you.(GY)

Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 4:15.
  2. Colossians 1:2 Some manuscripts Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
  3. Colossians 1:7 Or slave
  4. Colossians 1:7 Some manuscripts your
  5. Colossians 1:9 Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding
  6. Colossians 1:12 Some manuscripts us
  7. Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by
  8. Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20
  9. Colossians 2:11 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 13.
  10. Colossians 2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of
  11. Colossians 2:13 Some manuscripts us
  12. Colossians 2:15 Or them in him
  13. Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our
  14. Colossians 3:6 Some early manuscripts coming on those who are disobedient
  15. Colossians 3:21 Or Parents
  16. Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
  17. Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
  18. Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group